Minh Ly sect receives legal status

HCM CITY — The Minh Ly Dao – Tam Tong Mieu (Minh Ly sect under the Three-Religion Temple) has received official permission to practise their religious rites.

Head of the Governmental Commission for Religious Affairs, Nguyen The Doanh, presented the legal status certificate at his office headquarters in HCM City yesterday.

The religion’s chief prelate said at the ceremony that the entire Minh Ly religion, from clerics to followers, were very grateful to the Government and relevant agencies for recognising their belief.

He also pledged to enhance religious practice in accordance with the sect’s principles and national law.The Minh Ly sect had made considerable contributions to humanitarian and charitable movements and promoted a spirit of leniency, happiness and development, Doanh said.

He called on clerics and followers of the Minh Ly Dao religion to help in the cause of national development.

Founded 85 years ago, Minh Ly Dao-Tam Tong Mieu now boasts some 1,000 followers. It has one temple in HCM City, and one each in the southern provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Long An.The religion combines the faiths of three major Oriental religions dedicated to Budda, Fairies and Saints. — VNA/